Brachial Plexus Injuries: Did Your Doctor Handle the Emergency Properly?
When a child is born with a brachial plexus injury or is diagnosed with Erbs Palsy, it may be as a result of improper management of the infant during delivery. If you believe your child's brachial plexus injury may have been a result of improper management by the doctors or nurses, please click Regan Zambri and Long to contact us by email or call us (202) 463-3030 to discuss the situation.
The medical term for the condition when the baby's shoulder gets stuck in the mother's pelvis is "Shoulder Dystocia." When this occurs, it is a medical emergency. Obstetricians should be trained and ready to deal with this situation in a calm and effective manner. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, a proper response begins with immediate recognition of the situation and institution of specified maneuvers, such as the McRoberts maneuver, suprapubic pressure, internal rotation, or removal of the posterior arm, to relieve the impacted shoulder and allow for spontaneous delivery of the infant. These maneuvers aid physicians in completing one of three actions: enlarging the maternal pelvis through cephalad rotation of the symphysis and flattening of the sacrum; collapsing the fetal shoulder width; or altering the orientation of the longitudinal axis of the fetus to the plane of the obstruction. Physicians should regularly train and practice for this emergency situation so that when they are faced with it they can react appropriately and prevent this tragic injury.
In addition to arm and shoulder injuries, you should also look out for:
The medical term for the condition when the baby's shoulder gets stuck in the mother's pelvis is "Shoulder Dystocia." When this occurs, it is a medical emergency. Obstetricians should be trained and ready to deal with this situation in a calm and effective manner. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, a proper response begins with immediate recognition of the situation and institution of specified maneuvers, such as the McRoberts maneuver, suprapubic pressure, internal rotation, or removal of the posterior arm, to relieve the impacted shoulder and allow for spontaneous delivery of the infant. These maneuvers aid physicians in completing one of three actions: enlarging the maternal pelvis through cephalad rotation of the symphysis and flattening of the sacrum; collapsing the fetal shoulder width; or altering the orientation of the longitudinal axis of the fetus to the plane of the obstruction. Physicians should regularly train and practice for this emergency situation so that when they are faced with it they can react appropriately and prevent this tragic injury.
In addition to arm and shoulder injuries, you should also look out for:
- A baby that is slow to start and may require assistance with breathing;
- Fractures of the baby's collar bone (clavicle) or humerus (arm);
- Repairs to the mother's vaginal area (an episiotomy) or tearing done during the birth;
- Maternal hemorrhage (bleeding);
- Uterine rupture (tears in the uterus that require surgical repair).
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